Green Walls in Architecture

Talking about Legionnaires’ Disease…

A green wall is a layered system: a waterproof backing panel, a growing medium (felt, modular trays, or hydroponic panels) that holds the roots, an irrigation loop, and plants chosen for low light and humidity tolerance. The constant water system has to be below 68 degrees fahrenheit in order to prevent Legionnaires’ Disease! We used this exact layered approach on a recently completed headquarters project for a Silicon Valley tech company. The wall build followed this same structure, adapted to the client's ceiling heights and mechanical layout.

Leaves absorb CO2 and VOCs through pores called stomata and release oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis — that's happening passively, all the time. Many office-grade walls add a second layer: small fans pull room air through the root zone, where microbes break down VOCs further. Active systems like this have been measured cutting CO2 by roughly 14%, VOCs by 28%, and PM2.5 by 21% in office settings.

This project was worked on by KBA but through a different firm.